So you want a car that can seat your entire family comfortably, has equipment aplenty, and a peppy engine powering it under the hood?
So you want a car that can seat your entire family comfortably, has equipment aplenty, and a peppy engine powering it under the hood? That's a fairly long list of demands, and the i20 is Hyundai's attempt to meet them all. Not only does the i20 have the driving manners of a modern European hatchback, it has the looks too. But the big question is does Hyundai's much awaited new 'i' pack a powerful enough punch?
At first sightWhile the i20 is manufactured at Hyundai's plant in Chennai, the car is targeted at the European market. Thus, the looks of the i20, both inside and out, is designed to appeal to European tastes, which doesn't do the i20 any harm at all.
The front gets peel-back headlamps and a huge air intake below the numberplate. A distinct ridge in the middle of the bonnet gives the i20 a muscular look. Strong character lines at the sides further the muscular look. The rear sports simple tail-lamps along with a huge Hyundai logo which also functions as the hatch release lever.
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There is no doubt that the i20 has been styled for a conservative European audience, and thus Indian consumers might find the i20's lines slightly generic.
The inside story
The driving position of the i20 is high, which, coupled with big windows ensures that the visibility is good. This might bother taller drivers a little, as they might feel like they're perched a tad too high. The dashboard is user friendly, though the design lacks excitement. Despite this, there is no doubt about the fact that the i20 has several useful bits inside. There are several cubbyholes and a very deep glovebox that offers excellent room.
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On the down side, the top of the dash has no recesses and the doors lack door pockets.
The front seats offer decent levels of comfort, while the rear is spacious enough to seat three people with ease. The steering feels nice to grip and the top end model gets audio controls on it. Hyundai has offered a generous boot on the car as well.
Behind the wheel
You get the same 1.2-litre petrol engine that does duty in the i10 Kappa, but the gear ratios have been altered to suit the larger hatchback. This engine is ideal for the city and offers good response from low revs. It feels very peppy for a small engine, and there's good flexibility too. The gearbox is decent to use, but it feels a bit rubbery and could have been slicker. Overall, the 77bhp motor feels adequate and offers decent performance.
The steering is the best on any Hyundai car to date. It feels responsive and offers good communication from the surface below. The i20 is nimble around town, which makes parking into tight spaces quite easy. Overall, the ride is comfortable but this does mean there is some body lean in bends, but you always feel well in control.
In terms of fuel economy, we managed 11.3kpl in the city and 16.1kpl on the highway, decent figures considering the weight and size of the car.
Price wise
The i20 costs Rs 6.51 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) which makes it slightly pricey for a hatch, but it makes up with generous space and features that include six airbags, another first in its class.
Being a Hyundai, you can rest assured that running and maintenance costs will be well below rivals. So, if you thought the i10 was good, the i20 builds on those values, warranting a close look.
